Cooking Grill With Integrated Removable Roller Grate

ABSTRACT

A cooking grill including a removable roller grate having a plurality of substantially parallel elongated rollers, the roller grate including a drive system for enabling the rollers to rotate together in the same direction, and a drive motor assembly having a drive motor for providing rotational movement to an output shaft, wherein the drive system is engageable with the drive motor assembly such that when the roller grate is installed in the main grill, rotation of the output shaft of the drive motor causes the rollers to rotate.

BACKGROUND

Roller grills for cooking linked meats such as hot dogs, sausages, and the like including an array of elongated rollers arranged side-by-side in a generally parallel configuration for supporting linked meats between adjacent rollers. All of the rollers rotate in the same direction to provide for sustained counter-rotation of the linked meats supported on the rollers.

A portable roller grill is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,591,220, issued on Sep. 22, 2009, which is commonly owned with the present application and the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

SUMMARY

A cooking grill is disclosed including a main grill and a drive motor assembly. The main grill includes a removable roller grate having a plurality of substantially parallel elongated rollers, the roller grate including a drive system for enabling the rollers to rotate together in the same direction. The drive motor assembly has a drive motor for providing rotational movement to an output shaft. The drive system is engageable with the drive motor assembly such that when the roller grate is installed in the main grill, rotation of the output shaft of the drive motor causes the rollers to rotate.

A cooking grill is disclosed including a roller grate and a drive motor assembly. The removable roller grate has a plurality of substantially parallel elongated rollers, the roller grate including a drive system for enabling the rollers to rotate together in the same direction. The drive motor assembly has a drive motor for providing rotational movement to an output shaft. The drive system is engageable with the drive motor assembly such that when the roller grate is installed in the grill, rotation of the output shaft of the drive motor causes the rollers to rotate.

A cooking grill is disclosed having a main grill, a roller grate, a slotted grate, and a drive motor assembly. The main grill includes a first grill section and a second grill section. The roller grate is adapted to be mounted in at least the first grill section, the roller grill including a plurality of substantially parallel elongated rollers and a drive system for enabling the rollers to rotate together in the same direction. The slotted grate is adapted to be mounted in at least the second grill section. The drive motor assembly provides rotational movement to the drive system of the roller grate.

A cooking grill is disclosed including a main grill and a drive motor assembly. The main grill includes a removable roller grate interchangeable with either of a slotted grate and a griddle. The roller grate has a plurality of substantially parallel elongated rollers and a gear assembly for enabling the rollers to rotate together in the same direction. The gear assembly includes a plurality of drive gears with one drive gear mounted to rotate coaxially with each roller, one of the drive gears serving as a main drive gear, and a plurality of intermediate gears with each intermediate gear being located between and meshingly engaging with two adjacent drive gears such that all of the drive gears rotate in the same direction. The drive motor assembly is located on one side of the main grill adjacent to the roller grate and has a drive motor for providing rotational movement to an output gear located beneath the roller grate. The main drive gear of the gear assembly is engageable with the output gear of drive motor assembly such that when the roller grate is installed in the main grill, rotation of the output gear of the drive motor causes the rollers to rotate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages described herein will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a grill with the covers closed over a main grill, auxiliary grill, and an accessory unit.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing one configuration of the grill of FIG. 1 with the covers open, including a roller grate and a slotted grate located in the main grill.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing another configuration of the grill of FIG. 1 with the covers open, including a slotted grate section and a griddle section located in the main grill, and a roller grate located in the auxiliary grill.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a roller grate for use in the grill of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded top view of a drive end of the roller grate of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the idler end of the roller grate of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway view of a drive motor and drive gearing for driving rollers in the roller grate of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an interior perspective view of the drive gearing of FIG. 7 with the roller grate removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of an integrated cooking grill 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-3. The cooking grill 10 includes a main grill 12 flanked on one side by an auxiliary grill 14 and on the other side by an accessory unit 16. The grill 10 is supported by a base 20 which may include storage space and may rest on castors 28 to enable the grill 10 to be readily relocated. A main cover 22 has a front-facing handle 24 and is hingedly attached to a rear of the main grill 12 to protect the cooking surfaces and to enclose the cooking area as desired when food is being prepared. The main cover 22 can include a temperature gauge 26 to monitor the temperature of the cooking area. A removable auxiliary grill cover 15 covers the auxiliary grill 14 when the auxiliary grill 14 is not in use and provides convenient shelf space on one side of the main grill 12. A removable accessory unit cover 17 covers the accessory unit 16 when the accessory unit 16 is not in use and provides convenient shelf space on the other side of the main grill 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the accessory unit 16 can include an ice bucket 18, a storage container for cooking tools, or other useful accessory.

A main grill control panel 30 is located in a front portion of the main grill 12 for controlling the main grill 12. The main grill 12 includes at least two grill sections for receiving cooking surfaces. At least one grill section is adapted to receive a roller grate. In some embodiments, the roller grate is removable and can be replaced or interchanged with other cooking surfaces, including but not limited to a slotted grate and a griddle. In other embodiments, the roller grate is not removable but is integrally mounted in the main grill 12. In yet other embodiments, the roller grate is mounted in the auxiliary grill 14, either removably or integrally.

In the depicted embodiment, the main grill 12 includes three grill sections, each equipped with its own burner and temperature control. A left burner (not shown) supplies heat to a left grill section 32, and is controlled by a left grill control 42. A center burner (not shown) supplies heat to a center grill section 34 and is controlled by a center grill control 44. A right burner (not shown) supplies heat to a right grill section 36 and is controlled by a right grill control 46. Each of the grill sections 32, 34, and 36 is removable for ease of cleaning. The main grill 12 includes an internal ledge (not shown) on which each of the cooking surfaces rests so that all of the cooking surfaces are aligned to form a horizontal cooking surface. The grill control panel 30 may also include a timer 40.

The center grill section 34 and the right grill section 36 can each interchangeably support various cooking surfaces, including but not limited to a slotted grate 52 (as configured in FIG. 2) or a griddle 54 (as configured in the left grill section 32 in FIG. 3), or a roller grate 100. In the depicted embodiments, the left grill section 32, in addition to interchangeably supporting a slotted grate 52 or a griddle 54 and other cooking surfaces, is adapted to support and operate a roller grate 100. The main grill control panel 30 includes a roller grate switch 50 for turning on and off the roller grate 100 when installed in the left grill section 32. Adjacent to the left and right grill sections 32, 36 are heat shields 56, 58, respectively, that are located inside the main cover 22 when the main cover 22 is closed. Note that other embodiments of the main grill 12 are contemplated in which the roller grate 100 could be installed in the center grill section 34 or the right grill section 36, in addition to or as an alternative to the left grill section 32.

The auxiliary grill 14 includes one grill section 38 that has a separate burner (not shown) and is controlled by an auxiliary grill control 48. The grill section 38 can support a cooking surface including a roller grate 100, a slotted grate 52, or a griddle 54 of the same size as those supported in the left, center, and right grill sections 32, 34, 36 of main grill 12. The cooking surface installed in the grill section 38 of the auxiliary grill 14 can be removable or integrally mounted.

A detailed embodiment of the roller grate 100 is shown in FIG. 4. The roller grate 100 is specifically adapted for cooking linked meats 200 such as hot dogs, sausages, and the like by rotating them over the flame to provide uniform cooking and to avoid burning. A cook does not need to turn the linked meats since the roller grate 100 does it automatically.

The roller grate 100 includes an array of elongated rollers 120 rotatably supported at each end thereof. While the roller grate 100 as shown includes seven rollers 120, the roller grate 100 can have any number of roller 120 greater than or equal to two. The rollers 120 are rotatingly driven by a drive system 104 located at a drive end 106 of the roller grate 100. The drive system 104 includes a main drive gear 110 which is driven by a drive motor assembly 210. The drive motor assembly 210 is described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 5, 7, and 8.

The rollers 102 are arranged to be substantially parallel in side-by-side fashion and spaced apart from each other for rotatably supporting linked meats 200 such as hot dogs between adjacent rollers 102. Each of the rollers 102 includes a roller tube 120, a drive end 122, and an opposite idler end 124. A drive end fitting 130 mates with the drive end 122 of the roller tube 120 and an idler end fitting 140 mates with the idler end 124 of the roller tube 120. The rollers 102 are supported by a first or drive end bracket 160 and a second or idler end bracket 164 respectively supporting the drive end fittings 130 and the idler end fittings 140 of the rollers 120. The brackets 160 and 164 are supported by support members which form a ledge within the main grill 12 in a conventional manner as would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rollers 102 of the roller grate 100 are shown in detail. Each drive end fitting 130 is adapted for sliding receipt in the drive end 122 of a roller tube 120. The drive end fitting 130 includes a reduced diameter portion 132 for fitting within the roller tube 120 and a raised annular shoulder 134 having a lip 136 for abutting the drive end 122 of the roller tube 120. Each idler end fitting 140 is adapted for sliding receipt in the idler end 124 of the roller tube 120, which is at the opposite end of the roller tube 120 from the drive end 122. The idler end fitting 140 includes a reduced diameter portion 142 for fitting within the roller tube 120 and a raised annular shoulder 144 having a lip 146 for abutting the idler end 124 of the roller tube 120. In the depicted embodiment, the annular shoulders 134, 144 of the end fittings 130, 140 have outer diameters dimensioned to provide a substantially flush transition between the circumferential outer surface of the end fittings 130, 140 and the roller tube 120.

The drive end bracket 160 and the idler end bracket 164 are disposed at opposite ends of the rollers 102 for rotatably supporting the rollers 102. Each of the idler end fittings 140 includes a cylindrical end projection 148 adapted for receipt by a circular opening 166 in the idler end bracket 164. Each of the drive end fittings 130 is adapted to be supported by the drive end bracket 160 via a drive gear 150. A pair of connector assemblies 170 secures the brackets 160, 164 to each other with the rollers 120 disposed between the brackets 160, 164. Each of the connector assemblies 170 includes an elongated rod 172 having threaded ends 174 that are received into openings (not shown) in the brackets 160, 164. Each connector assembly 170 also includes a pair of internally threaded nut caps 176 threadedly engaging the threaded ends 174 of the rod 172 to secure the rod 172 to the brackets 160, 164. A gear assembly 104 is depicted in FIG. 5 for coordinatedly driving the rollers 102 at approximately the same rotational speed. The gear assembly 104 includes a plurality of drive gears 150 alternating with a plurality of intermediate gears 112. The drive gears 150 each include a gear body 152, a shank 154 extending axially in one direction from the gear body 152, and gear teeth 156 disposed about a circumferential edge of the body 152. The intermediate gears 112 each include a gear body 114 and gear teeth 116 disposed about a circumferential edge of the gear body 114. The body 114 of each of the intermediate gears 112 is located between the bodies 152 of a pair of the drive gears 150 such that the teeth 116 of each intermediate gear 112 meshingly engage the teeth 156 of each of the drive gears 150 and the teeth 156 of each drive gear 150 meshingly engage the teeth 116 of a pair of adjacent intermediate gears 112. Arranged in this manner, when the gear assembly 104 is actuated, the drive gears 150 will all rotate synchronously in the one rotational direction, while the intermediate gears 112 will all rotate synchronously in the opposite rotational direction.

It is noted that other drive systems can be used in place of the gear assembly 104 with an alternating series of drive gears 150 and intermediate gears 112. For example, one embodiment of a drive system can include a series of drive gears 150 mounted to each roller 102 in which the drive gears are connected by a chain drive. Another embodiment of a drive system can include a series of sheaves (in place of the drive gears 150) mounted to each roller in which the sheaves are connected by a belt drive. Other mechanical drive systems can also be used.

Each drive gear 150 is nonrotatably connected to a corresponding roller 102 such that the drive gear 150 and the roller 102 rotate together. The shank 154 of the drive gear 150 is received into an opening 138 in the drive end fitting 130 that is inserted into the drive end 122 of the roller tube 120 so that the shank 154 and the drive end fitting 130 are nonrotatable with respect to one another. The shank 154 and the drive end fitting 130 can be maintained nonrotatable by any mechanism known to one of ordinary skill in the art, including a mating key and keyway, a splined connection, a mating non-round stub and socket, a press fit, or epoxy or adhesive. Preferably the shank 154 can be removed from the opening 138 in the drive end fitting 130 for disassembly of the roller grate 100 and reinserted for reassembly of the roller grate 100.

A gear cover 180 protects the gear system 104 and provides a bearing support for the drive gears 150 and the idler gears 112. The gear cover 180 has an end wall 182, sides 184, and mounting tabs 186. When installed the end wall 182 of the gear cover 180 is positioned generally parallel to the drive end support 160 and the sides 184 extend between the end wall 182 and the drive end support 160 such that the drive gears 150 and the idler gears 112 are disposed between the end wall 182 and the drive end support 160. The mounting tabs 186 are inserted into slots (not shown) in the drive end support 160 to secure the gear cover 180 to the drive end support 160.

The end wall 182 of the gear cover 180 includes a plurality of circular openings 188 aligned with the location of the gears 150, 112 for rotatably supporting a first end of the respective gear bodies 152, 114. The drive end support 160 also includes a plurality of circular openings (not shown) for rotatably supporting a second end of the gear bodies 152, 114 of the gears 150, 112. The shanks 154 of the drive gears 150 extend through the openings in the drive end support 160 to mate with the corresponding rollers 102.

Motive power is provided to drive the gear system 104 through one of the drive gears 150, which serves as a main drive gear 110. The drive gear 150 that serves as the main drive gear 110 is adapted to be rotatably driven by the drive system 210.

The drive system 210, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, includes a drive motor 212 having an output shaft 220. In the depicted embodiment, electrical power is provided to the drive motor 212 by an electrical cable. When an electric drive motor 212 is used, power may be provided as AC power from an electric outlet or DC power from a battery or alternative light source such as a solar cell. A power switch 214 enables the motor 212 to be selectively turned on or off as desired. The power switch 214 may not be needed if the roller grate switch 50 on the main control panel 30 is used. As an alternative to an electric motor, the drive motor 212 may be a mechanical motor, such as a spring motor, which does not require electricity.

A drive output gear 222 having teeth 224 is mounted to rotate with the output shaft 220 of the motor. The output shaft 220 positions the output gear 222 directly beneath the main drive gear 110 such that when the roller grate 100 is installed in the main grill 12, the teeth 156 of the main drive gear 110 meshingly engage with the teeth 224 of the output gear 222. When the motor 212 is powered and rotates the output shaft 220, the output gear 222 thus rotates and causes the main drive gear 110 to rotate, which in turn rotates all of the drive gears 150 in one direction and all of the intermediate gears 112 in the opposite direction. Consequently, the rollers 102 all rotate in the same direction which causes a linked meat 200 positioned between adjacent rollers 102 to rotate in a direction opposite to that of the rollers 102. It is noted that while the drive gear 150 serving as the main drive gear 110 is shown aligned with one particular roller 102, the main drive gear 110 can be the drive gear 150 that is aligned to rotate with any of the rollers 102, and the output gear 222 can be correspondingly located to cause all of the rollers 102 to rotate via the gear assembly 104 as driven by the drive motor 212.

In one embodiment, the roller grate 100 can readily be removed from the main grill 12 for cleaning or for substitution with a slotted grate 52 or a griddle 54, and can be readily reinstalled as desired. When the roller grate 100 is installed in the main grill 12, the main drive gear 110 and the output gear 222 are engagingly aligned, and when the roller grate 100 is removed from the main grill 12, the main drive gear 110 and the output gear 222 are released from engagement. For removal, the roller grate 100 simply lifts out of the main grill 12. When the roller grate 100 is lifted, the main drive gear 110 disengages from the output gear 222. The output gear 222 remains in place and does not interfere with use of a grate 52 or griddle 54 in the left grill section 32. For installation, the roller grate 100 is simply lowered into the main grill 12, and the main drive gear 110 reengages with the output gear 222.

The foregoing describes embodiments foreseen by the inventors for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the device, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto. 

1. A cooking grill comprising: a main grill including a removable roller grate having a plurality of substantially parallel elongated rollers, the roller grate including a drive system for enabling the rollers to rotate together in the same direction; and a drive motor assembly having a drive motor for providing rotational movement to an output shaft; wherein the drive system is engageable with the drive motor assembly such that when the roller grate is installed in the main grill, rotation of the output shaft of the drive motor causes the rollers to rotate.
 2. The cooking grill of claim 1, the drive motor assembly further including an output gear mounted to rotate with the output shaft of the drive motor, and the drive system including a main drive gear adapted to meshingly engage with the output gear such that: when the roller grate is installed in the main grill the main drive gear and the output gear are meshingly engaged with each other, and when the roller grate is removed from the main grill the main drive gear and the output gear are released from engagement.
 3. The cooking grill of claim 1, wherein the roller grate has a drive end and an opposite idler end, and wherein the drive system includes a gear assembly located at the drive end, the gear assembly comprising: a plurality of drive gears, one drive gear mounted to rotate coaxially with each roller, one of the drive gears serving as a main drive gear; a plurality of intermediate gears, each intermediate gear located between and meshingly engaging with two adjacent drive gears such that all of the drive gears rotate in the same direction; wherein the main drive gear being adapted to meshingly engage with an output gear mounted to rotate with the output shaft of the drive motor.
 4. The cooking grill of claim 1, wherein the roller grate has a drive end and an opposite idler end, and wherein the drive system includes a chain drive located at the drive end for causing the rollers to rotate together.
 5. The cooking grill of claim 1, wherein the roller grate has a drive end and an opposite idler end, and wherein the drive system includes a belt drive located at the drive end for causing the rollers to rotate together.
 6. The cooking grill of claim 1, further comprising an accessory unit located on a side of the main grill adjacent to the roller grate, wherein the drive motor is mounted beneath the accessory unit.
 7. The cooking grill of claim 6, further comprising an auxiliary grill located on a side of the main grill opposite the accessory unit.
 8. The cooking grill of claim 1, wherein the drive motor is powered by alternating current electricity.
 9. The cooking grill of claim 1, wherein the drive motor is powered by a battery.
 10. The cooking grill of claim 1, wherein the drive motor is powered by a solar cell.
 11. The cooking grill of claim 1, wherein the drive motor is powered mechanically.
 12. The cooking grill of claim 1, the main grilling surface further including a slotted grate adjacent to the roller grate.
 13. The cooking grill of claim 1, further comprising a removable griddle that is interchangeable with the removable roller grate.
 14. The cooking grill of claim 1, further comprising a removable slotted grate that is interchangeable with the removable roller grate.
 15. A cooking grill comprising: a roller grate having a plurality of substantially parallel elongated rollers, the roller grate including a drive system for enabling the rollers to rotate together in the same direction; and a drive motor assembly having a drive motor for providing rotational movement to an output shaft; wherein the drive system is engageable with the drive motor assembly such that when the roller grate is installed in the grill, rotation of the output shaft of the drive motor causes the rollers to rotate.
 16. The cooking grill of claim 15, further comprising a main grill and an auxiliary grill extending outwardly from one side of the main grill, wherein the roller grate can be removably mounted in either of the main grill and the auxiliary grill.
 17. A cooking grill comprising: a main grill including a first grill section and a second grill section; a roller grate adapted to be mounted in at least the first grill section, the roller grill including a plurality of substantially parallel elongated rollers and a drive system for enabling the rollers to rotate together in the same direction; a slotted grate adapted to be mounted in at least the second grill section; and a drive motor assembly for providing rotational movement to the drive system of the roller grate.
 18. The cooking grill of claim 17, further comprising: an auxiliary grill mounted to one side of the main grill, the auxiliary grill being adapted for mounting either of the roller grate and the slotted grate.
 19. A cooking grill comprising: a main grill including a removable roller grate interchangeable with either of a slotted grate and a griddle, roller grate having: a plurality of substantially parallel elongated rollers; and a gear assembly for enabling the rollers to rotate together in the same direction, the gear assembly including a plurality of drive gears with drive gear mounted to rotate coaxially with each roller, a plurality of intermediate gears with each intermediate gear being located between and meshingly engaging with two adjacent drive gears such that all of the drive gears rotate in the same direction, wherein one of the drive gears serves as a main drive gear; and a drive motor assembly supported by the main grill adjacent to the roller grate, the drive motor assembly having a drive motor for providing rotational movement to an output gear located beneath the roller grate; wherein the main drive gear of the gear assembly is engageable with the output gear of drive motor assembly such that when the roller grate is installed in the main grill, rotation of the output gear of the drive motor causes the rollers to rotate.
 20. The cooking grill of claim 19, wherein when the roller grate is installed in the main grill the main drive gear and the output gear are meshingly engaged with each other, and when the roller grate is removed from the main grill the main drive gear and the output gear are released from engagement.
 21. The cooking grill of claim 19, further comprising an auxiliary grill located on a side of the main grill opposite the drive motor assembly, the auxiliary grill being adapted to removably receive one of the roller grate, the slotted grate, and the griddle. 